Smut Monday: Beauty
Pairing: ItaSaku
beyondthemoor, thank you for organising! :D
(The idea is based on the Gerewol festival of the Wodaabe tribe in Niger, Africa)
Burnous: a woollen cloak of sorts
Skoonheid: Beauty (if I'm wrong please correct me)
"Are you prepared?"
Itachi looked at his father evenly, thanking his mother as she poured him more tea. "Yes, of course." It wasn't a lie. He had been preparing for years.
Fugaku studied him for another moment before nodding. "Good. You get one chance, son. Do not mess it up." Mikoto rolled her eyes as she swept a strand of hair away from his eyes.
"You're making it sound like he's going to get butchered if he doesn't get picked. Son, don't worry. Just do your best." Any protest from her husband was quelled with a look. As his parents left the kitchen, Itachi could only clench his hands under the table, in an attempt to put a stop to their trembling. It didn't work.
Gulping down the hot liquid as fast as he could, he washed the remaining dishes in the sink before grabbing a burnous from his room as he headed out into the backyard and sneaked out the small gate. Hurrying to the forest, within minutes he had reached the small stream to start his practice. He stepped into the cool water with a shiver. He slipped the cloak from his shoulders and with the sound of claps and drums in his mind, he took his stance, crossing his wrists on his right, right at his hip. As his arms rose into the air gracefully, he brought his hands to his right, crossing his body diagonally, to pause next to his head.
He had worked on adding a certain kind of flow to his movements, imitating the subtle waves he was standing in. It helped because a lot of his movements were like pushing water back.
It was tomorrow. The day he had been practicing for, and dreading all his life.
The festival of Skoonheid. Everyone wore their best clothes and jewellery. He, and most of the males his age, participated in a dance; a contest of sorts. They could be chosen as prizes by the most eligible women of the village.
He wanted to be the prize everyone wanted but at the same time, he was so afraid.
"You look nervous."
Itachi looked up from the beads his entire upper torso was decorated with, the physical weight of the necklaces not too much but adding a different kind of pressure on a mental level. He felt relief seep into a small part of his heart when he saw his best friend. Kisame stepped up next to him, his own set of beads hanging from his thick neck, indifferent to the glares being directed at him.
"You look…calm."
"I am calm." Itachi eyed him enviously, wishing to have access to the same well of confidence his friend lived in.
"Come on, Itachi. We have nothing to worry about. We're better than all these fuckers, you know that." He snorted when the men standing near them adopted nastier expressions. "Pathetic."
"Kisame, you have a clear advantage over everyone here, with your height. You're going to be the most popular participant." His friend smirked at that. "Is that Pein?" They watched as the auburn haired man made his way over to them, holding a small container.
"Kohl," he explained flatly. He gestured for them to take a seat. "Deidara will take care of your hair." The blond came forward with a wooden comb. Sudden murmurs turned their attention to the entrance.
Chief Tsunade stepped into their tent. Her partner, Jiraiya trailed in after her. "Are you boys ready?" Her voice was all power, and combined with Jiraiya's comforting grin, it made them feel better. This was tradition. Itachi's father had been chosen by his mother, and they had been happy together since then. Of course, marriage was not the only option. People became lovers, or simply parted ways after the festival ended.
Their eyelids painted and hair pulled into tight braids, the duo made their way to the grounds. All the men were wearing jewellery around their heads, thin, delicate and kind of annoying as the metal hung over his eyebrows.
"Ready?" Kisame asked with a grin.
"No," Itachi muttered but squared his shoulders anyway.
They all stood in a line, in the middle of the field and with their hearts beating wildly they waited for the elder to give the signal, which was calling out the name of their tribe thrice.
"Konoha!" For a woman of her age, Chiyo's voice was still quite loud and steady.
He could feel his fingers tremble. He tightened his core and straightened up even more, not daring to look at the ten women who took their seats at the front of the crowd. But a splash of pink caught his eye and he couldn't help but glance at the tall, pink haired woman who walked like the earth was hers. Their eyes met and Itachi look away at once, feeling like his heart might give out, the image of jade eyes swimming in his mind.
"Konoha!"
With a deep breath, he took his stance, mirroring Kisame and the rest of the men. This was it.
"Konoha!"
They began to move, arms flowing like the river he had stood in everyday for the past year, ankles shifting as they turned and hopped to the beat of palms striking together again and again, drums beating loudly. He heard the voices of Kiba and his family as they began to sing, heard the metal wrapped around his calves jingle merrily as he continued to move. He tried to keep the curve of his mouth up, not showing any sign of the terror he felt pumping through his body. He didn't know if it was stage fear or the fear of not being chosen.
Minutes and minutes seemed to pass, his fright threatening to overtake him before he saw his brother's face in the crowd, a victorious smile stretching across his face. There was confusion and then some apprehension as he felt something hit his back. Itachi stopped at once, and turned to glance at the small pouch of rice on the ground. Eyes drifted up and met jade again. As she smiled, fierce and proud, Itachi felt fear, and thrill at what he knew was coming.
He glanced at Kisame who grinned encouragingly and winked as he moved his arms, and then a pouch hit him in the head. Raising a brow, a cocky grin spread over his face only to falter when he spotted Mei Terumi. The Guest of Honour; she was the chief of the Mizu tribe. The two friends looked at each other for strength as they started walking.
He knew who she was. Sakura, the daughter of their Chief, and the best hunter of the tribe. Somewhere in the crowd, his father must be jumping for joy. He felt his hand tremble again as he put it in the hand she had held out. Her lips quirked and fingers closed firmly around his as she led him away from the festival. He felt calmer as she smiled at him almost reassuringly, and turned to look at Kisame who was heading in another direction, only to laugh at the nervous mumbles he could hear spilling from his mouth.
To his surprise, the large tent they came to was right next to the stream. His stream.
"I believe you're quite familiar with this place?" He flushed at her question. "I've seen you here. You're very good."
"Oh. Thank you." He didn't know what to say.
"Come in, then." He did, and took in the interior with all its lamps, his nose twitching at the earthy scent in the air. Sakura sat him down on a stool in the middle of the tent, and set to removing the beads from his neck one by one. His eyes traced the curve of her waist, the lines of muscle on her arms, her hair that was carefully braided and woven with beads. She put his necklaces in a basket and retrieved a bottle of marula oil, pouring a few drops onto her palm. She came to stand behind him and her hands settled on his shoulders, squeezing gently as she felt his shiver. As she rubbed the oil into his skin, she finally spoke again.
"You are Itachi?" He nearly jumped off his seat, but was held in place by the heat of her palms and the strength of her fingers.
"Y-Yes."
"Mikoto's son?"
"Yes."
She hummed as her hands slid down to his shoulder blades. "Tell me, Itachi. What…" He braced himself for questions regarding his virginity, sexual preferences and experience. "…are your hobbies?" He blinked.
"Oh, I…um."
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"I like to practice archery. With my friends." He was quite good at it.
"Then we must go hunting together. If you want to, of course." He lit up at that.
"Would you really take me with you?" It was certainly not unheard of, for men to hunt in their tribe. But the ones as young as him didn't get to participate until there were specks of white in their hair and their blood was not as…heated.
"Of course." They shared a smile and Itachi began to believe that his situation wasn't as unfair as he thought it was.
"My parents are merchants. They specialise in tea. I like to try the different ones they get from other tribes." He missed her grin as he began to relax.
"That sounds nice. Do you have a favourite?"
"If I had to pick one, it would be this, um, leaf tea. From the Suna tribe, I think."
"Ah. I know the one. I quite like that as well. Their Chief, Temari is a dear friend of mine. You know, people say their loyalties shift like the sands they dwell in. The people of Suna. But from my experience, the sand people are loyal to the point of foolishness." He looked up and back curiously, having never met anyone from another tribe. "It was my first battle against people that were not my own. I had travelled with my mother to their tribe, when Temari was chosen as the new leader. We became friends when we first sparred together. A few days later, the Ame tribe attacked."
"We weren't allies, then?" He breathed.
"No, that happened a year later."
"What happened when they attacked?"
"Well, a few of their women cornered the two of us. Said they'd leave the people of Suna alone if she handed me over." He looked shocked.
"What did she say?"
"Nothing at first. I was a bit worried at that." They laughed in low tones at the admission. "But then, one of them flew at me. She was quite fast. Temari took the blow for me, and slit her throat. That, I feel, was an adequate response."
Itachi looked awestruck. "Then Konan became the Chief."
"And we've all been on good terms ever since," she confirmed and smiled at him.
Itachi felt his heart beat wildly, but this time for completely different reasons. They touched several different topics and about halfway through the discussion his entire upper torso felt warm, glistening with oil. They talked about their friends; he spoke of Kisame, Pein, Deidara and Sasori. She told him about Ino, Hinata, Karin and TenTen. Their love for archery and their friends was something they had in common. Sakura undid the cloth that covered his legs and knelt between them, her hands on his ankles. There was only silence after that. He could feel something hot twist in his belly as her hands reached his calves.
When her fingers touched his thighs he could only squirm. She didn't waver even once as she worked.
"I've never done this before," he blurted out. His cheeks brightened with shame.
"I see."
"So…I just…it might not be-"
"Itachi." He swallowed, staring down at his hands when he felt a finger at his chin, tipping it up. "I will teach you. You don't have to worry about anything. I will be with you every step of the way." Itachi gazed at her in silence. When her hands reached the tops of his thighs, still massaging, she leaned up to kiss him and he met her halfway. As their tongues danced and explored, she cupped the back of his neck and tilted her head to deepen the kiss, shifting closer to him. Her hands had been all over his body but he was desperate for her to really touch him, and when she did he was nearly finished. Her fingers traced the curve of his length gently, and he had to pull his mouth away when she grasped it, her hands still slick with oil. Itachi started panting lightly, unable to breathe properly when she pumped him slowly. When she stopped, he looked up dazedly with his cheeks flushed.
"Come." He scrambled to his feet and followed her to the wooden bed in the corner. As he sat down at the edge and slid backwards, she looked at him, his flushed face and shaking hands, contemplatively. "We don't have to do this today." She was strong but so very beautiful, he noted. A true huntress. She could slay men and animals with little to no effort.
"No I…I want to." Sakura nodded and crawled up the bed, climbing up his body to straddle his thighs.
"Sure?"
"Yes." He sat up to press his lips to hers, gasping when she rocked her clothed centre against his erection. She pulled back to study him as she continued to grind, smiling at his low groans.
"Please," he murmured. She complied and unwrapped her dress, breath hitching when he reached forward to touch her. He looked a little lost; reaching down to cover his fingers with his, she taught him how to touch her. When she moaned, his fingers started moving with some confidence, pumping in and out of her heat firmly as she wrapped her arms around his neck, crushing his mouth to hers.
Sakura lifted her hips and he immediately aligned his shaft with her entrance. As she sank down on him slowly, Itachi struggled to breathe. When she started pressing gently kisses to his cheeks, he decided in the back of his mind that he wanted to be with her forever.
He decided that he would do whatever it takes to become hers.
Let me know what you think!